The glen of Imaal is one of the rarest breeds that exist in the world, as it is very little known outside of Great Britain, its place of origin. It is a fairly robust Irish working dog despite its small size.

The silent glen of Imaal

Also called Wicklow Terrier or simply Glen, it is a dog native to the Glen of Imaal region near Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Today, the Imaal region is a military zone and dogs of this breed are no longer seen in the area.

They were born throughout the 16th century when Hessian mercenaries settled in the region. The mercenaries brought their short dogs with them and mixed them with the native Irish terrier dogs, thus consolidating a small but robust breed, capable of adapting to all kinds of work.

The Glen of Imaal was created with the intention of hunting vermin such as foxes, badgers and otters, although it is also good at hunting rats according to some records. One of the most notable characteristics of these canines is how quiet they can be, as they only bark for very specific things.

As a curious fact, these dogs have a very low birth rate due to how restricted their species is, and that is that there are only about 300 births per year. In fact, in 2003 only 26 puppies were registered globally, an alarming number for fans of this breed.

Physical aspects

The morphology of Glen of Imaal is quite peculiar; It is a dog with a longer body than it is tall, with small legs and a slightly larger head that stands out from the body. However, despite its appearance, it is a very robust dog that adapts well to the environment.

Head

• The length of the muzzle is usually the same in relation to the size of its head.
• The jaw is articulated in the form of a scissor.
• The eyes are round, usually darkly pigmented, and closely spaced. The look gives a serious look.
• The ears are born from the top of the head, small in size and ending in a point.

Body

• They have a maximum height of 35 centimeters.
• The average weight varies between 15 and 17 kilos.
• They have a more developed musculature, unlike other small breeds.
• The legs are considerably short in relation to its elongated body.
• The tail is short and is usually docked in countries where the practice is allowed.
• They have a double layer of dense fur, which protects it from the outside elements.
• The colors of its coat are usually between wheat or bluish.

Temperament

The Glen of Imaal is an obedient and intelligent dog , indispensable qualities in hunting specimens like this one. In the same way, the character of this dog  in general  is quite calm and docile in front of humans. 

While working, the dog is brave and tenacious in the face of all kinds of situations, with a naturally stealthy attitude to ambush its prey. What’s more. nature has given it a predisposition to excavate the earth, due to the fact that its prey hid in burrows there.

Their personality is friendly and has a great predisposition, which makes them the ideal dogs to have as a family; They are also very patient with children, although they tend to be reserved and cautious around strangers. In fact, even in  front of other dogs they can be very stubborn and territorial.

On the other hand, its preferred environment is rural sites, although given its size, it can be easily adapted to urban life, as long as it is allowed to practice the necessary exercise and the appropriate freedom for them.

Training

To avoid unwanted behaviors, the Glen of Imaal should be trained from puppyhood with basic obedience exercises, in order to take advantage of its natural intelligence. Also physical exercises are essential to drain your energy, because failure to do so, the dog will end up spending it in unexpected activities.

The best way to train these dogs is by practicing in obedience competitions such  as Agility , with which they will overcome several obstacles in a row. Talent contests are also ideal to bring out the potential of our canine companion.

Health and disease

The Glen of Imaal terrier is a dog with exceptional health, which even amazes veterinarians in various parts of the world. The selective breeding of these dogs in previous centuries has given them resistance to diseases.

But all breeds have their weaknesses, and these dogs are no exception to the norm. One of the most common pathologies is the degeneration of the disc in the back, very common in dogs of short stature; and also  retinal atrophy, which is present as a genetic trait.

The good news is that these diseases are hereditary, and there are few cases in which the aforementioned diseases have occurred. On the other hand, some are overweight if their diet is not controlled.

With regard to care, these dogs require minimal maintenance, nothing is necessary other than brushing, constant cleaning of their skin and a sweep for external parasites to keep their coat in good condition. It never hurts to schedule regular appointments to the vet to check his health.

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Image source: Kindall at English Wikipedia